South African President Jacob Zuma has applied for an interdict to prevent the publication of a report by the nation’s ombudsman on the alleged influence of the Gupta family in government affairs.

Bloomberg news quotes the outgoing ublic Protector Thuli Madonsela as saying “he (Zuma) has applied for a court hearing on the interdict for Tuesday, October 18, making it impossible for me to release the report before then”.

“This is the same as giving himself an interdict by default,” said Madonsela who ends her seven-year term as public protector on Friday.

Her investigation relates to the dismissal and appointment of cabinet ministers and board members and directors of state-owned companies and possibly corrupt influence in the awarding of state contracts and licenses to companies linked to the family, according to the public protector’s office.

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said in March that the Guptas, who are in business with Zuma’s son, offered him the post of finance minister before Nhlanhla Nene was fired from the position in December. The controversy around the family prompted the nation’s largest banks to close accounts belonging to companies owned by the Guptas. Both Zuma and the Guptas deny wrongdoing.